Jutland anniversary battle

[Pijlie]

Some projects take a while to come to fruition. In 2006 I wrote a set of strategic rules to play the battle of Jutland. I was frustrated with the fact that this would translate badly to the tabletop just as the fleets were. After all, the British Grand Fleet had tremendous numerical superiority and any all-out battle would be a walkover for the British.

So I designed a double blind map game with a game leader to facilitate a strategic pre-game of maneuvering the fleets without the admirals -like in reality- knowing where exactly the enemy fleet would be. And some 10 years later, not coincidentally in the 100th anniversary year of the battle, we managed to play it.








Read more at http://pijlieblog.blogspot.nl/2017/05/battle-of-jutland-1916.html

[von Lucky]

Opened for reading tonight - put impressed by the preview already. Nice one!

[von Lucky]

Read it - lovely stuff. Getting ideas for something similar in the Pacific during WWII.

[Pijlie]

 

Glad you liked it. There is indeed no reason not to use similar rules for other naval wargames.

The problem I tried to solve is that naval engagements often are interesting due to specific circumstances and timing which offset evident numerical (dis)advantages. Opposing fleets often are very assymetrical, but battles still come to unexpected results because of concentrations of force, maneuvering et cetera.

I myself was contemplating the Java Sea as a second subject for such rules.

[von Lucky]

And that's what I've thinking about (after refighting the three battles last year - we didn't bother with Bali Strait).

The fleets can start in the same starting positions, the objectives can be primary and secondary ones and then the players can try and change history.

[Pijlie]

Great minds think alike

Unfortunately for you, I started my rules in English but edited and finished them in Dutch. I could send you the last English version just to give you an idea. Just PM me your email if you'd like that.

[Driscoles]

Wow. This looks amazing!
Have you ever been to Laboe. There is the mariners monument and they had a gigantic diorama of that battle! Your large table reminds me of it.

[Pijlie]

No I can't say that I have

[Driscoles]

[Plynkes]

Have you ever been to Laboe.

I have! And you were there! (Acting the goat, mostly.)



An impressive report, Pijlie. Must have been very satisfying having such a long-planned idea finally pay off.

[Pijlie]

I must go to Laboe some time, that's for sure.

It was very satisfying to finally play this. Of course playing it yielded new things to improve, as always. So when all goes well, we
 will play Java Sea somewhere around 2042

[Driscoles]

it was a fun day Plynkes !

[wrgmr1]

This looks great! That was a lot of work scratch building all those ships!
I played a Pre-Dreadnought game at Enfilade last weekend and got the naval bug AGAIN, however the rules were not up to the task. I had just finished looking through a couple of books a friend had lent me. They were published in 1896 detailing the British Navy and Army in pictures. Lots of pictures of pre-dreadnoughts. Being an ex-navy man these kinds of games intrigue me. Thanks for posting.

[marianas_gamer]

Great looking game and fleets. I think that I would have enjoyed the strategic movement almost as much as the game. Great staying the course and thanks for sharing!
LB

[McKinstry]

Wow. That is a couple of great sites. thank you.